U.S. Department of Energy - Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
Vehicle Technologies Office
Fact #716: February 27, 2012
Diesels are more than Half of New Cars Sold in Western Europe
In 2011, nearly 52% of all new cars sold in Western Europe were diesel. In Belgium, Norway, France and Spain more than 70% of the new car market in 2011 were diesels. The market penetration of diesels was very quick in Norway from 2004 to 2007. In 2009, Germany, Italy, and France each had significant declines in the share of diesels purchased, possibly due to emission standards and/or vehicle incentive programs in those countries.
Share of New Diesel Vehicles Sold, 1999 – 2011 
Supporting Information
Western Europe Diesel Car Sales Shares, 1999-2011
| Country |
1999 |
2000 |
2001 |
2002 |
2003 |
2004 |
2005 |
2006 |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
| Belgium* |
54.3% |
56.7% |
62.6% |
64.2% |
68.3% |
69.9% |
72.9% |
74.7% |
76.9% |
78.7% |
75.1% |
75.4% |
75.9% |
| France |
44.1% |
49.0% |
56.2% |
63.2% |
67.4% |
69.2% |
69.1% |
71.4% |
73.9% |
77.3% |
70.4% |
72.4% |
70.8% |
| Germany |
22.4% |
30.4% |
34.6% |
38.0% |
39.8% |
44.0% |
42.7% |
44.3% |
47.7% |
44.1% |
30.7% |
47.1% |
41.9% |
| Italy |
29.1% |
33.7% |
36.6% |
43.6% |
48.7% |
58.4% |
58.5% |
58.2% |
55.7% |
50.6% |
42.2% |
55.4% |
45.9% |
| Norway |
8.2% |
9.0% |
13.3% |
17.5% |
23.2% |
27.0% |
39.2% |
48.4% |
74.4% |
72.4% |
72.7% |
75.7% |
74.9% |
| Spain |
51.7% |
53.1% |
52.5% |
57.3% |
60.4% |
65.1% |
67.8% |
70.0% |
70.8% |
69.3% |
70.1% |
70.3% |
70.7% |
| Switzerland |
6.6% |
9.2% |
13.3% |
17.8% |
21.5% |
25.9% |
28.1% |
30.0% |
32.5% |
32.4% |
29.6% |
32.9% |
30.4% |
| United Kingdom |
13.8% |
14.1% |
17.8% |
23.5% |
27.3% |
32.5% |
36.8% |
38.3% |
40.2% |
43.6% |
41.7% |
50.6% |
46.1% |
| Total |
28.4% |
32.3% |
36.0% |
40.4% |
43.6% |
48.3% |
49.5% |
51.0% |
53.3% |
52.6% |
46.0% |
55.8% |
51.8% |
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* Beginning in 2005, Belgium data also include Luxembourg.
Note: Total includes Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Eire, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.
Source: Automotive Industry Data Newsletter, Nos. 0102, 0302, 0501, 0602, 0702, 0714, 0904, 1202.
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